News Americas, BRASILIA, Brazil, Thurs. Sept. 8, 2011: Thousands took to the streets on Independence Day in Brazil yesterday to denounce corruption.
Wearing face paint and clown noses, protesters joined crowds watching the traditional military parade in the capital, Brasilia in a March Against Corruption.
Some of the protesters chanted slogans in support of President Rousseff, who has promised a zero-tolerance approach to graft.
The protest was backed by Brazil’s College of Lawyers, the Brazilian Press Association, and the National Bishops’ Conference.
The protests came as four government ministers have left office over corruption allegations since President Dilma Rousseff took office in January and as dozens of government officials have lost their jobs or been arrested due to allegation of corruption.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl was reported to have been killed during a shoot out between security officials and residents of a Rio slum, which erupted on Tuesday evening.
Some 50 heavily armed men from a nearby slum open fired at security forces in the Complexo do Alemao shantytown, Brazilian media reported.
The Alemao slum, a stronghold for drug traffickers, was retaken by security forces in November as part of what is known as a pacification program and ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
